Martin Henderson
Encyclopedia
Martin Henderson is a New Zealand
actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC
TV series Off the Map
, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson
in the soap opera
Shortland Street
.
, New Zealand
. He began acting when he was thirteen years old, appearing in Strangers, a local television production. He attended Birkenhead Primary and Westlake Boys High School. He starred in the drama Shortland Street
, where he played the character of "Stuart Neilson" from 1992 to 1995. He subsequently appeared in a number of Australia
n films and television
productions (such as Echo Point
and Home & Away), before moving to the United States
in 1997, in order to pursue a career in Hollywood films and to train in a two-year program at the Neighborhood Playhouse
in New York City
.
Henderson spent more than a year unsuccessfully auditioning for film roles in Los Angeles
, but in 2001, he was finally cast in a supporting role in the John Woo
-directed war film
, Windtalkers
. In 2002, he starred opposite actress Naomi Watts
in the horror film, The Ring
. Following the box office success of the film, Henderson received a role playing the character of Drew in Perfect Opposites, and subsequently was cast as the lead character in the biker film Torque, released in early 2004 to mixed reviews. In 2005, he starred opposite India
n actress Aishwarya Rai
in the romantic film Bride & Prejudice, and in the award-winning Little Fish
starring Cate Blanchett
.
In 2006 Henderson won rave reviews in London's West End
in a theatre production of Fool for Love
with Juliette Lewis
.
Henderson has also appeared alongside Britney Spears
in the music video for her single "Toxic
." He was set to star alongside Jordana Brewster
in the television series adapted from the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith
. As of 2008, the series has not been picked up by any network. Recently, Henderson has appeared in a commercial for the 2008 Cadillac CTS
, and the House
episode "Painless
". In 2010 it was announced Henderson had been cast in the creator of Grey's Anatomy
new television series Off the Map
wherein doctors travel to the end of the world to rediscover why they had initially wanted to become doctors.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
TV series Off the Map
Off the Map (TV series)
Off the Map is a medical drama created by Jenna Bans, who also served as an executive producer, with colleagues from Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers...
, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
in the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
.
Life and career
Henderson was born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He began acting when he was thirteen years old, appearing in Strangers, a local television production. He attended Birkenhead Primary and Westlake Boys High School. He starred in the drama Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
, where he played the character of "Stuart Neilson" from 1992 to 1995. He subsequently appeared in a number of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n films and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
productions (such as Echo Point
Echo Point
Echo Point was an Australian television soap opera produced by Southern Star Productions for Network Ten in 1995.The series was devised as an attempt by the Ten Network to rival the opposition soap Home and Away on the Seven Network...
and Home & Away), before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1997, in order to pursue a career in Hollywood films and to train in a two-year program at the Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Henderson spent more than a year unsuccessfully auditioning for film roles in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, but in 2001, he was finally cast in a supporting role in the John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
-directed war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
, Windtalkers
Windtalkers
Windtalkers is a 2002 action war film directed by John Woo. Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater star as two US Marine sergeants assigned to protect Navajo code talkers in Saipan during World War II.-Plot:World War II Sgt...
. In 2002, he starred opposite actress Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
in the horror film, The Ring
The Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
. Following the box office success of the film, Henderson received a role playing the character of Drew in Perfect Opposites, and subsequently was cast as the lead character in the biker film Torque, released in early 2004 to mixed reviews. In 2005, he starred opposite India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n actress Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an Indian film actress. She worked as a model before starting her acting career, and ultimately won the Miss World pageant in 1994...
in the romantic film Bride & Prejudice, and in the award-winning Little Fish
Little Fish (film)
Little Fish is a 2005 Australian film directed by Rowan Woods and written by Jacquelin Perske. It was filmed in and around Sydney, in Cabramatta and in Fairfield...
starring Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
.
In 2006 Henderson won rave reviews in London's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
in a theatre production of Fool for Love
Fool for Love (play)
Fool for Love is a play written by American playwright/actor Sam Shepard.-Plot:The "fools" in the play are battling lovers at a Mojave Desert motel. May is hiding out at said motel when an old childhood friend and old flame, Eddie. Eddie tries to convince May to come back home with him and live in...
with Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress...
.
Henderson has also appeared alongside Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
in the music video for her single "Toxic
Toxic (song)
"Toxic" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, co-written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on January 12, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After trying to choose between " Boom Boom" and "Outrageous" to...
." He was set to star alongside Jordana Brewster
Jordana Brewster
Jordana Brewster is an American actress. She began her acting career in her late teens, with a 1995 one-episode role in the soap opera All My Children. She followed that appearance with the recurring role as Nikki Munson in As the World Turns, for which Brewster was nominated for Outstanding Teen...
in the television series adapted from the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 2005 American romantic comedy action film directed by Doug Liman and written by Simon Kinberg. The original music score was composed by John Powell...
. As of 2008, the series has not been picked up by any network. Recently, Henderson has appeared in a commercial for the 2008 Cadillac CTS
Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is a mid-size car manufactured by the Cadillac marque of General Motors currently available in three body styles: Sedan, Coupe, and Sport Wagon. It was introduced in 2002 as a sports sedan, replacing the Cadillac Catera. The CTS and the supercharged CTS-V variant have been named...
, and the House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
episode "Painless
Painless (House)
"Painless" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of House and the ninety-eighth episode overall. It aired on January 19, 2009.-Plot:...
". In 2010 it was announced Henderson had been cast in the creator of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
new television series Off the Map
Off the Map (TV series)
Off the Map is a medical drama created by Jenna Bans, who also served as an executive producer, with colleagues from Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers...
wherein doctors travel to the end of the world to rediscover why they had initially wanted to become doctors.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Strangers | Zane | Television |
| 1989 | The Billy T. James Show | Aaron Gleesby | Television |
| 1990 | Betty's Bunch Betty's Bunch Betty's Bunch was a short TV drama/adventure series from New Zealand, produced in 1989. Aimed at a young audience, the story revolved around four foster kids living with Betty. Though things are not always easy financially for the family, they keep the spirit up... |
Television | |
| 1992–1995 | Shortland Street Shortland Street Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in... |
Stuart Neilson Stuart Neilson Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him.... |
Television |
| 1995 | Echo Point Echo Point Echo Point was an Australian television soap opera produced by Southern Star Productions for Network Ten in 1995.The series was devised as an attempt by the Ten Network to rival the opposition soap Home and Away on the Seven Network... |
Zac Brennan | Television |
| 1996 | Home and Away Home and Away Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television... |
Geoff Thomas | Television |
| Sweat Sweat (TV series) Sweat was an Australian drama series created by John Rapsey and produced by Barron Entertainment in Perth. The show aired on Network Ten in 1996 and centred around students at an Australian school for the athletically gifted.Sweat was Heath Ledger's first regular role on a television show... |
Tom Nash | Television | |
| 1997–1999 | Big Sky | Scotty Gibbs | Television |
| 2002 | The Ring The Ring (2002 film) The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring.... |
Noah Clay | |
| Windtalkers Windtalkers Windtalkers is a 2002 action war film directed by John Woo. Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater star as two US Marine sergeants assigned to protect Navajo code talkers in Saipan during World War II.-Plot:World War II Sgt... |
Pvt. Nellie | ||
| 2003 | Skagerrak Skagerrak The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:... |
Ian/Ken | |
| 2004 | Torque | Cary Ford | |
| Perfect Opposites | Drew | ||
| 2005 | Little Fish Little Fish (film) Little Fish is a 2005 Australian film directed by Rowan Woods and written by Jacquelin Perske. It was filmed in and around Sydney, in Cabramatta and in Fairfield... |
Ray | |
| Bride and Prejudice Bride and Prejudice Bride and Prejudice is a 2004 romantic musical film directed by Gurinder Chadha. The screenplay by Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges is a Bollywood-style adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was filmed primarily in English, with some Hindi and Punjabi dialogue. The film released in... |
William Darcy | ||
| 2006 | Flyboys | Cassidy | |
| 2007 | Battle in Seattle Battle in Seattle Battle in Seattle is a 2007 film and the directorial debut of actor Stuart Townsend. It is based on the protest activity at the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999... |
Jay | |
| Smokin' Aces Smokin' Aces Smokin' Aces is a 2006 crime film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan. It stars Jeremy Piven as a Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant and Ryan Reynolds as the FBI agent assigned to protect him... |
Hollis Elmore | ||
| 2009 | Inside the Box Inside the Box (TV series) Inside the Box is a television pilot created by Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice executive producer Shonda Rhimes for ABC in 2010. The pilot starred Indira Varma as Catherine Powell, an ambitious reporter that works for a television news station... |
Jake Fischer | Television |
| House M.D. | Jeff | Television | |
| Cedar Boys Cedar Boys Cedar Boys is a 2009 Australian film about life of Middle Eastern young adults in Western Sydney, Australia. Written/directed/co-produced by Serhat Caradee, the film is his directorial debut, and took him 7 years from script to screen. Cedar Boys has a dedication at the end to his mother who died... |
Mathew | ||
| 2010 | Home by Christmas | Young Ed | |
| 2011 | Off the Map Off the Map (TV series) Off the Map is a medical drama created by Jenna Bans, who also served as an executive producer, with colleagues from Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers... |
Ben Keeton | Television |
External links
- unofficial fan site: http://www.martinhenderson.org/